Ximending in VivoCity offers Taiwanese cuisine at decent prices

Wong Ah Yoke | The Sunday Times | Sun May 16 2010

Singapore, May 16, 2010 - There have been restaurants here claiming to serve Taiwanese fare but none offered the authenticity that Shin Yeh brought here when it opened in Liang Court in 2008.

The restaurant is a branch from one of the top restaurant chains in Taipei.

Now, there is also Ximending, which opened in VivoCity last month.

Like Shin Yeh, it, too, has a well-known Taipei restaurant behind it – Ching Yeh, which opened the Singapore outlet in a joint venture with local restaurant group Creative Eateries.

Ximending, however, targets a more budget-conscious crowd with dishes priced below $20 each, except for a couple of fish items such as steamed red garoupa. Its cooking is also a tad less refined but that homely feel is part of the appeal.

The menu is extensive but those who are unfamiliar with Taiwanese dishes are guided by asterisks printed next to the restaurant’s house items. There are also plenty of attractive photographs to draw your attention to the more popular dishes.

And by and large, you do get what you see in the photos. The radish and egg pancake ($10), for example, is the same fluffy omelette you see in the menu. It is the Taiwanese equivalent of the local chai poh omelette except it comes in the shape of a thick pancake and the pickled radish is not as salty.

It goes well with a bowl of sweet potato porridge ($1.50), which is done to perfection here. The porridge is thick and smooth, and the short rice grains glisten like little pearls.

The only photo not to fall for is the one for baby clams in light sauce ($8), where the shellfish looks cooked. But in reality, they are marinated raw and the shells are only partially open.





Familiar favourites such as stewed pork belly with preserved vegetable and the 'san bei' chicken with basil go well with sweet potato porridge.

Other dishes that pair well with the porridge include classics such as stewed pork belly with preserved vegetable ($16.90) and braised pork in soya sauce ($12). I like both though the braised pork could be a little more tender.

Similarly, the steamed pork patty topped with egg yolk ($10.90) is a little too hard for my liking. The problem may be that the meat is too lean and those who are watching their fat intake may prefer it that way. I, however, like my meat patties well-marbled.

I have no complaints about the “san bei” chicken with basil ($17.90), which has a nice balance of flavours from the mix of soya sauce, wine and oil. The fresh basil adds a pleasant aroma to the meaty chicken pieces.

Another dish that I am sure seafood lovers will enjoy is the deep-fried oysters ($13.90), which should appeal to children too. The batter is crispy while the oysters are tender, and I, for one, cannot resist popping piece after piece into my mouth.

Desserts, however, are rather pedestrian. I like only the sweet taro soup ($5.50), which is like a diluted version of the Teochew or nee or yam paste. Other items such as almond tofu ($5.50) and deep-fried sweet taro balls ($6) are decent but not very exciting.

What I won’t order again is the egg pudding ($5.50), which has a floury texture.

Ximending is named after Taipei’s premier shopping district, which is thronged with crowds day and night. The family friendly atmosphere of the eatery is one that I’m sure will draw crowds easily too.

I wish the staff are friendlier though. Perhaps it is because the place is understaffed but during my three visits over the past two weeks, the only times anyone smiled at customers were when greeting them at the entrance.

Ratings

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 2.5/5
Ambience: 3/5

Ximending

Address: VivoCity, 1 Habourfront Walk 01-51A, S'pore 098585
Tel: 6376-8018
Opens: Noon to 10pm daily
Price: Budget from $40 a person

Check out more photos of Ximending here

Authentic Taiwanese cuisine at Ximending

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